Donate SIGN UP
Home > Phrases & Sayings > Barney?

Barney?

Avatar Image
Brabbins | 15:38 Tue 07th Dec 2004 | Phrases & Sayings
4 Answers

Where does the word 'barney' meaning to have an argument come from?

prev Greek Love
  
next W*nk
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 4 of 4rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by Brabbins. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Avatar Image Chillum
Barney Rubble - Trouble?
15:42 Tue 07th Dec 2004
Avatar Image Quizmonster
'Barney' has been used - particularly in Australian slang - to mean an argument since the middle of the 19th century. I'm afraid that predates Barney Rubble and his Flintstones buddies by over 100 years!
16:20 Tue 07th Dec 2004
Avatar Image amarillis

This link has an interesting explanation:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/13/messages/932.html

 

17:09 Tue 07th Dec 2004
Avatar Image Quizmonster
Amarillis's link is fascinating, but according to 'TOED' the very earliest recorded use of 'barney' to mean specifically a row or argument - as opposed to a lark, spree, cheat etc etc - was in C R Thatcher's 'Colonial Songster', published in 1864.
20:56 Tue 07th Dec 2004

1 to 4 of 4rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Barney?

Answer Question >>